Blanket robe device



Nov. 24, 1942. v12.1:1. EBBOTT 2,302,844

BLANKET ROBE DEVICE I Filed Nov. 9, 1940 INVENTOR. Euzn 557w CAMP Essa rr.

Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLANKET ROBE DEVICE Elizabeth Camp Ebbott, Mount Kisco, N. Y.

Application November 9, 1940, Serial No. 364,981

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to a device in the nature of a blanket which may be optionally utilized as a protective robe or garment.

The present device consists essentially of a substantially rectangular element of soft heatinsulating material having a length and breadth sufficient to permit its use as a blanket on a bed of normal size. It is provided at its center with a slit that is just long enough to permit the passage through it of the human head. This permits the device to be Worn, when desired, as a protective robe of the type which drapes from the shoulders of the wearer.

In accordance with my invention, the slit is so formed in the center of the rectangular ele' ment that the edges of the slit are arranged in overlapping relation, thereby closing the gap when the device is laid flat for use as a blanket.

A particular feature of my invention lies in providing the device with a special ornamentation which is so arranged, with respect to the slit, that it cooperates with the latter in defining a composite decoration calculated to conceal the very existence of the slit. When the device is laid fiat on a bed, this decoration has a distinctive ornamental effect, and, when the device is worn, the decoration adds to the attractive appearance of the robe in the region of the neck.

I achieve the foregoing objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present device laid flat on a bed, to serve as a blanket;

Figure 2 is a front View of the device, as it appears when worn as a protective robe;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the central region of the device; and

Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The present device consists of a substantially rectangular element Ill, of soft heat-insulating material, preferably of the kind of which blankets or robes are customarily made. It has a length and breadth which adapts it for use as a blanket, in the ordinary manner, on a bed of normal size. In Figure '1 I have illustratively shown the element in laid fiat on a bed I I, with the upper edge turned down, to show its manner of use as a blanket.

At the center of the device I provide a slit !2, preferably parallel to the short ends of the device, and of a length which is just sufficient to permit the passage through it of the human -of the decorative edgings serving as an extension of the edge to which it is attached, whereby the overlapping effect shown in Figure 4 is achieved. If desired, a series of buttons or other fasteners, or a slide fastener, may be associated with the slit to help in holding it securely in closed condition when the device is to be laid flat for use as a blanket. But whether such additional fasteners are used or not, the overlapping edges of the slit serve to close the gap whenever the device is laid fiat.

In accordance with my invention, I provide special ornamentation in the central region of the device, for the purpose of producing a decora-- tive elfect, and to conceal the existence of the slit. One way to accomplish this is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which I have illustratively depicted the application to the device ll! of the ornamental bands or stripes M. These bands may be composed of the same material of which the edgings l3 are composed, and they may be stitched or otherwise secured to the device Hi to form a sort of composite decoration. In the illustrative case herein shown, this decoration takes the form of an isosceles triangle, one ofthe exposed edgings I3 serving as the base of the triangle while the stripes or bands l4 serve as the sides. In the middle of this triangle I have shown an illustrative decoration I 5. which may be embroidered or otherwise produced, and which may take the form of a monogram, an emblem, or the like.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to any specific type of decorative effect. However, regardless of the particular form which the ornamentation may assume, it should be of a character calculated to conceal the existence of the slit in the device. The triangular decoration which I have shown, by way of example, is highly effective in achieving this purpose, and it is preferable forthe additional reason that it effectively ornaments the neck region of the device when it is worn as shown in Figure 2. In this figure it will be observed that the edgings I3 define a decorative collar, While the ornamental elements M and I define a pleasing ornamentation directly beneath it.

One of the outstanding advantages of the present device lies in the fact that it is immediately available to the person in the bed. To don the robe, all that the occupant of the bed has to do is to draw the upper edge of the blanket upward to an extent sufficient to allow the head to be projected forwardly through the slit !2. The wearer thereby becomes adequately clothed to leave the bed without fear or danger of exposure. This procedure can be accomplished with great ease, even in absolute darkness, and the present device is for this reason superior, as a robe, to the conventional sleeved type of garment. When worn, the folds of the present device cling closely and comfortably to the body, and the protective nature of the garment is particularly noticeable when the wearer sits down, since the forward portion of the device aficrds a reliable and warl covering for the lap and legs.

The present device is of particular advantage to travelers since it may be packed in the form of a compact rectangular bundle, and affords to the traveler, in a minimum amount of space, the equivalent of an extra blanket and of a negligee robe.

Obviously if the device is intended for use by children, the length and breadth of the element Ill is correspondingly lessened to fit the normal bed of childs size.

In general, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may make changes in the details herein described and illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. It is, therefore, intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular element of soft heat-insulating material having a length and breadth sufficient to permit its use as a blanket on a bed of normal size, said element being provided at its center with a slit extending transversely thereof and just long enough to permit the passage through it of the human head, whereby said device may be optionally utilized as a protective robe adapted to drape from the shoulders of the wearer with the slit extending substantially from shoulder to shoulder, means forming an overlapping relation of the edge portions of the slit when the device is laid flat for use as a blanket, and ornamentation means on said element at one side of the slit in position to be disposed below the same and at the front of the element when draped on the wearer, said ornamentation means cooperating with the overlapping means to provide an ornamentation figure on the surface calculated to conceal the existence of the slit.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a rectangular element of soft heat-insulating material having a length and breadth sufficient to permit its use as a blanket on a bed of normal size, said element being provided at its center with a slit extending transversely thereof and just long enough to permit the passage through it of the human head, whereby said device may be optionally utilized as a protective robe adapted to drape from the shoulders of the wearer with the slit extending substantially from shoulder to shoulder, an edging secured to an edge portion of the slit and extending lengthwise thereof in overlapping relation with the other edge portion thereof when the device is laid flat for use as a blanket, and ornamentation means 

